Supernatural Academy: Year One (Supernatural Academy #1)(52)

“I don’t owe you an explanation, Chell,” he said. “We broke up two months ago. You’ve been fucking Shane ever since. Go and paw at him.”

While Jesse was untangling himself from Chellie, Kate looked me over with her mean girl smirk.

“Look, it’s the human trash. Hanging around the Atlanteans doesn’t change the fact that you’re nothing more than a powerless, pathetic almost-human.”

“Leave,” Asher said with bite. Kate’s head jerked back, shock coloring her face. When she blinked at Asher, seeing he was serious, all the color drained from her cheeks. She shot me the darkest look ever before swiveling on one heel and hurrying away. Chellie followed a moment later, fake tears filling her eyes.

She made it two steps before she turned back and lunged at me. The guys moved closer, but I shook my head at them. This was something I needed to handle on my own. I ducked Chellie’s slap, stepping into her and slamming my elbow into her shoulder to knock her back. I could have easily hit her jaw, but I didn’t want to get kicked out for fighting, so I went for the less obvious strike.

She stumbled, rubbing her shoulder, and lifted her lips in a snarl. “You’re dead, new girl. You’ve just fucked yourself big time.”

I laughed. “Bring it, bitch.” After everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours, I found myself surprisingly unworried about a couple of mean girls. Even if they could turn me into a toad.

She followed her friend, and I shot Jesse a pitying look. “Should have used your head brain for that decision, dude.”

Asher laughed, and a moment later Jesse joined in, shaking his head as he ran a hand through his dark hair. “I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. She’s hot, and sometimes, I mean on rare occasions when everything was going well, she was a nice chick. But the drama just got to be too much.”

“Is she a Clover too?” I asked, needing to know if that entire group would be gunning for me now.

Both guys nodded, and I let out a tired sigh. “Well, thanks for the escort, but I think I can make it to my room unscathed from here. I’ll see you around.”

I rushed off as fast as the Clovers had, heading to my room.

Holy shit, it had been a long day.





21





Despite my exhaustion, it was only early evening, and as I crossed through the magic users’ wing, there was a ton of supes on the main floor. Someone had set up a projector, and there was a movie playing.

No one looked my way, and I was grateful to be invisible.

When my door came into sight, I let out a long breath. I was so ready to get out of these filthy clothes, shower, and relax.

“Maddi!” Ilia shouted as I opened the door.

I waited for the disappointment to hit, but I wasn’t actually upset that she was in my space, Larissa was at her side, both of them wearing twin concerned expressions.

“Where the hell have you been?” Ilia asked. “I’ve been freaking the fuck out.”

She stepped closer and wrapped her arms around me. I closed my eyes and let my body sink against hers for a moment. It was a really nice hug.

I was probably gonna cry again.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, trying to keep it together. “The guys took me to their place and explained about the assassins, and then somehow Asher unlocked my energy, and … yeah … it’s been a long day.”

Ilia pointed to the bed, her expression stern, eyes bloodshot. “Sit. Talk. Do not leave anything out.”

I marched because she meant business. Larissa settled in on one side of me, Ilia on the other, and then I took a deep breath and told them everything that had happened. Including the stories from Atlantis, what Louis had done, and how my powers were locked down again while someone tried to figure everything out.

When I was done, we sat there in silence. It wasn’t uncomfortable, just absorbing the information … processing it. “So, the Arterian called you another name and said you were a royal of Atlantis?” Larissa confirmed. “I mean … how can you not have Atlantean blood?”

I shrugged. “I have no idea, but when my power was released, it was fey and magic user, in the way of the originals. Something’s not adding up here. I’m more confused than ever.”

Ilia waved her hand. “Forget that, let’s worry about those assassins. I mean, I’m highly trained in defense and attack magic—it’s actually the reason I got to be a tracker at such a young age—and I was like a first year against them.”

I nodded. “Yeah, Axl made it very clear that if they wanted us dead, we would be. He said they must have needed me for something.”

Larissa cleared her throat. “Dad wants to speak with you before class on Monday,” she said softly. “I think you might be getting a security detail.”

I coughed and choked. “What? Why?”

She shook her head and shrugged at the same time. “Something about your energy almost blowing up the school and sending out a beacon to the world advertising that you’re here.”

Muthafucker.

“I’m never gonna be cool with security following me around,” I warned her, hoping she’d take that information back to her father. “My energy is locked down now, so no one will know it’s me. He might as well just put more security around the school.”